Imagine standing poolside on a scorching summer day, watching the joy on children’s faces as they splash around, friends race each other to the deep end, and families make memories. Now imagine being excluded from that experience — not because you didn’t want to join in, but because you physically couldn’t.
For thousands of Australians with mobility challenges, this is their reality.
Why Inclusive Pools Are No Longer “Nice to Have”
Public aquatic centres are meant to be places of inclusion — hubs of health, wellbeing and community. Yet many pools around Australia remain inaccessible for those who use wheelchairs, are recovering from injury, are ageing, or have limited mobility.
The solution? It’s already here — in the form of pool hoists, accessible pool steps, aquatic wheelchairs and accessible bathrooms.
Key considerations:
- 1 in 5 Australians live with disability.
- Over 4 million Australians are over 65.
- Inaccessible facilities are not only non-inclusive — they open councils to DDA compliance issues and risk negative publicity.
But more than that — when accessibility is missing, so is participation.
The Fix Is Simpler Than You Think
Modern pool hoists and aquatic equipment are designed to seamlessly integrate with existing pools — no major renovations needed.
What you can add:
- Pool Hoists: Safe, dignified water access at the press of a button.
- Accessible Pool Steps: Wide, graded steps with grab rails for independent entry.
- Aquatic Wheelchairs: Designed to roll straight into the pool and out again or lift and lower via a pool hoist.
- Accessible Bathrooms: Adult change tables, ceiling hoists and enough room to accommodate users comfortably.
What’s In It For Councils?
- Meet DDA compliance and show genuine community leadership.
- Increase participation in swimming and aquatic programs.
- Boost reputation and positive community sentiment.
- Unlock funding – accessible upgrades often qualify for state or federal grants.
Don’t Wait for Complaints — Be the Council That Leads
There’s no better time to invest in inclusion. Contact us to discuss options and discover what might fit into your budget allocations.
